Madison Wells is on a mission — one fueled by love, loss, and a drive to bring awareness to a virus most have never heard of.
Wells, an Owensboro native, has been accepted as a charity runner for the 2025 New York City Marathon. She’ll be running in honor of her daughter, Ruth, who passed away at just 7.5 months old due to complications from congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV).
“I told my husband after my first marathon that I would only ever do another if it really meant something to me,” Wells said. “This is the only reason I would train for another full. It’s for Ruth.”
CMV is a common virus that can cause severe health problems for babies infected during pregnancy. According to the National CMV Foundation, 91% of women have never heard of it.
“That statistic just floored me,” Wells said. “Especially because of the impact it can have on babies — not just once they’re born, but even in utero.”
Wells and her husband learned of Ruth’s diagnosis 21 weeks into the pregnancy.
“In some ways, it was good we found out early because we had time to learn and prepare,” Wells said. “But it also meant CMV had already taken a toll on her body.”
Ruth was born at 34 weeks in October 2023 and spent 84 days in the NICU at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Despite being given little chance of survival, she defied the odds for more than half a year.
“She was never expected to make it to birth,” Wells said. “Her life was short, but she fought so hard. Running a marathon — something that takes grit and stubbornness — feels like a fitting way to honor her.”
As part of her charity runner agreement with the National CMV Foundation, Wells has committed to raising $5,000 by late October. To help meet that goal and spread awareness locally, she’s organizing a 5K event in Owensboro.
The Strides for CMV: Running for Ruth 5K will be held June 14 at 8 a.m. at the Joe Ford Nature Center, following a flat, out-and-back course along the Atkinson West Greenbelt.
The timed race welcomes all participants — runners, walkers, families, and wheelchair athletes — with awards for top male and female finishers and age group winners.
Registration is available at runsignup.com/strides4cmv, where participants can also learn more about Ruth’s story and the cause.
“The more people who read about Ruth, the more people who learn about CMV,” Wells said. “That’s what this is all about — honoring her life by helping others.”
The New York City Marathon is scheduled for November 2.
